Chapter 31: Trial to Cross the Barrier

The Hunter Association building was so massive it wouldn't be an exaggeration to compare it to the Blue House.

While I was gawking with my mouth open, a well-dressed woman approached.

"First time seeing it like this, right? Miss Eun-ha."

"I've actually heard a lot about the Vice President from Oppa."

The word 'oppa' feels really awkward in my mouth.

But what can you do. Jeong Na-yoon is beautiful enough to be Yoo Jin-seok's heroine.

You could call it an elegant black-haired beauty. I should get on her good side early since I might need to make her moan and squirm later.

If I were President Choi Cheol-sik, I'd have Jeong Na-yoon under my desk.

"Really?"

"Yes. So why did you call for me?"

Honestly it was annoying coming here, but I wanted to raise Na-yoon's affection.

"I'm sure you can guess generally why? That's why you came without asking."

"Yes."

"First, the Association President called for you personally. Ah, here he comes now."

In the distance, a middle-aged man approaches while picking his teeth with a toothpick.

Back when I was an office worker, my department head was exactly this type of character.

He'd pick his teeth while reeking of kimchi stew.

"Ahem. Miss Eun-ha. It's been a while since I saw you as a child."

Oh look, a shiny bald head.

Could his special ability be Sun Power? I almost burst out laughing watching him wipe the sweat off his gleaming head.

"Where did we meet before?"

"When you were very young. No injuries from the fight with Kim Jae-soo?"

"No, I'm fine. Though Si-woo the Divine Sword User is..."

Can't exactly say "becoming female" can I.

Honestly even that part down there seems to be disappearing, but still too slender for now.

Like a matchstick? The male muscles are fading as changes happen gradually, so I'll just drool while watching.

"We'll properly compensate Choi Si-woo. The reason I called you is the Association wants you to work as a Hunter."

I should probably hold back from saying "But I'm going to be a Villain" since that would make me the second Kim Jae-soo.

Not like I was planning to join the Association anyway.

"I don't have any interest in that right now."

"Then?"

"I'm thinking of looking at contract terms from various Guilds and joining whichever is good."

I need to say this so they won't bother me later. Why? Because most of the top Guild Masters in Korea right now are Yoo Jin-seok's companions.

The Heroines are even Guild Masters. Because of that they're romantic rivals so Guild relations aren't good, and even the men keep their distance since they're sick of Jin-seok's Heroines who only care about love games.

"Ahem. Isn't that a bit too honest?"

What do you want me to do?

I proudly stuck out my chest and declared:

"Because I'm pretty, strong, and worth it? I'm sure other Guilds are already thinking about contacting me?"

The words of a princess syndrome girl.

Half acting, half sincere. That's why even women fall for me.

In other words, I'm a charming woman that even women fall for.

"What conditions would satisfy you?"

"Before that, as a Student there would be restrictions on Hunter activities anyway, right?"

The law states full Hunter activities are only allowed after graduating from the Academy.

Until then, independent activities are prohibited and you need a guardian.

"Hmm. That's why we just want to borrow your name for now."

"So you want to pay rental fees to borrow my name value. Is that what you're saying?"

Seems my name value has risen quite a bit.

Having subjugated the S-Class Mutant Kim Jae-soo, I'm probably quite popular among Hunters behind the scenes.

If I play this right, I could get quite a lot out of this.

"Well, yes. We don't want to force a young Student's future. After graduation, if you want, we can coordinate with other Guilds for a transfer."

They seem quite desperate.

Then there should be something I can leverage here.

When the power dynamic is clear between employer and employee, might as well get what I can.

"I have a condition."

"Let's hear it."

"You don't need to pay me much money. Just let me go beyond the barrier."

Beyond the barrier means the quarantined areas like Incheon and a few other regions.

North Korea, where Pyongyang was devastated in the Great Cataclysm, is included.

And those quarantined areas are where Mutants and Villains mainly make their nests.

"Not going to Gyeonggi, Busan, Jeolla Province, or Jeju Island, but crossing the actual barrier? Like to Incheon?"

"Yes."

"Beyond the barrier is complete lawlessness. Still want to?"

"Yes."

Choi Cheol-sik and Jeong Na-yoon's faces twisted like there was something wrong with what I said.

They probably think I'm just a young kid being arrogant about my skills.

"Look. I know you're confident in your abilities. But it's dangerous. I've seen many people die from being overconfident in their youth. Above all, if anything happens to you, Yoo Jin-seok will kill me."

"So if I prove my abilities, it's fine?"

"You can handle Villains too. And Mutants."

Who doesn't know that. Still need to convince them though.

They won't easily permit it when my goals beyond the barrier aren't clear.

Even if my abilities are verified, they probably won't easily allow it.

"There's something I want to try beyond the barrier."

"What is it?"

"Exploring the Corrosion Zone. You can get lots of Magic Stones right? Could also find hidden Gates."

'Areas corrupted by Demonic Power. No one knows what's there. By Republic of Korea law, they're just marked as regions to be reclaimed.'

That's the setting for all regions outside functioning city areas in Korea.

That's why even the Association calls the Corrosion Zones unknown territory.

Since Mutants corrupted by Demonic Power could be lying in ambush, it's also where Villains and Mutants who commit crimes in the capital flee to.

Cross the barrier without a pass and you're immediately branded a Villain.

"Sigh. If you insist, we'll check your abilities first. That's fine right? I want to see your skills anyway."

"Yes."

"As it happens, Baek Cheong-gang from the White Tiger Guild is here. Land even one hit on him and I'll give you a pass to cross the barrier, plus equipment support."

"Okay."

I can handle a Guild Master of the White Tiger Guild.

* * *

"Oh. So you're Jin-seok's sister, Yoo Eun-ha."

"Oh damn, she's fucking gorgeous. You're my little sister from today."

An older-looking man and a candy-sucking girl young enough to be his niece look at me with interest.

"Hello. You're pretty too, unni."

That old-looking guy is Baek Cheong-gang.

Baek Cheong-gang had short hair and wore a white martial arts uniform.

His alias is 'Man of Steel'. True to that name, he excels at tanking and beats down Monsters with all sorts of martial arts.

Just think of him as having the Fighter position in a game.

And next to Baek Cheong-gang is a black-haired girl who looks about my age, fiddling with Magic Gear.

Her name is Seo Ji-yeon. Despite being in her 20s, she still has looks young enough to be my friend.

Her alias is 'Photographer of Death'

Her ability is pretty damn broken.

She can make a rectangle with her hands and "capture" everything seen through that frame by saying the voice command "Click".

The moment she tears that photo, the space captured in it disappears.

Above all, she's pretty.

Her way of talking is a bit annoying, but that's the condition for using her ability.

No harm in getting friendly.

"I've only seen you in videos, but I really like you. Too good for Jin-seok."

Ji-yeon touches my cheeks and hands.

I want to touch her too, but I hold back since she's older.

"Actually, Baek Cheong-gang, I have a favor to ask."

"Hmm?"

The Association President gets to the real talk.

"Please check Eun-ha's abilities."

"Don't tell me you're thinking of making her an Association Hunter?"

"Are you fucking senile, baldy? I'd rather be a Villain than join the Association. You pay your civil servants jack shit."

Ji-yeon sneered at the bald old man's ridiculous greed.

When the young woman glared at him with contempt, Choi Cheol-sik waved his hands.

"No, there's a reason. We just want to borrow Eun-ha's name for now. She actually wants to go beyond the barrier. I told her I'd allow it if she can land even one hit on you."

"The barrier? Why the hell would she need to cross it?"

Ji-yeon stares at me with wide eyes.

Going beyond the barrier isn't something even regular Hunters can easily consider.

Must be pretty shocking that I'm talking about it when I haven't even graduated from the Academy yet.

"Just curiosity about unknown territory?"

"Oh, I like that. I used to cross over a lot back then. If you could catch Kim Jae-soo, isn't that enough?"

I've already shown my abilities, but Association President Choi Cheol-sik probably wants to be extra careful.

Why? Because if anything happens to me, my brother Yoo Jin-seok could flip the Association upside down.

"Still, we need to be careful just in case."

"I'm fine with it. What about you, Eun-ha?"

"Sure, why not."

I can handle a White Tiger Guild Master.

I'd need to use the Evil Dragon's power to handle Ji-yeon too, but that martial artist Baek Cheong-gang is weak.

He's the weakest of Jin-seok's generation.

He's not bad when just fighting Monsters. But as a martial artist who relies entirely on mana-enhanced physical techniques, he falls behind other jobs in his generation who handle mana.

Hearing my answer, Choi Cheol-sik nodded and guided us to the underground sparring arena.

"There's a barrier up so do your best."

The barrier on the arena prevents using excessive force.

This is a bit disappointing, as it means I'll also have some restrictions on using my power.

"Here, take whatever weapon you want. I'll fight as I am."

"Come at me."

Back when I lived as an office worker in that world, I went to taekwondo academy as a kid.

I quit at yellow belt but can still roughly manage the forms.

"Hooh. Your stance is decent? I thought you used swordsmanship?"

"Pretty girls are perfect at everything."

"True. Your courage is admirable. But that's not enough. Try taking my fist!"

Here I just need to prove I'm around Baek Cheong-gang's level, but the Association sees me as Yoo Jin-seok's sister Yoo Eun-ha.

To go beyond the barrier, I need to prove overwhelming power to Choi Cheol-sik. If that's impossible due to the barrier, I'll have to show that I'm unscathed by any attack.

"Hurah!"

Baek Cheong-gang wrapped his body in mana.

Clear mana swirled around his fist until it became a tiger's head.

That's the 'White Tiger Fist' that Baek Cheong-gang developed himself.

As Baek Cheong-gang's basic buff skill, it should boast proper S-Class Guild Master level power.

So I didn't dodge.

Didn't block either.

If Baek Cheong-gang strikes with his mighty fist, I just need to push back with the Evil Dragon's defense.

Back then when I killed a billion people, you think there was no resistance? No. Even when I was a nun, there were countless attempts to kill me.

And they all failed miserably.

China once destroyed an entire city with a nuke trying to kill me.

When the Chinese army was rejoicing that the sacrifices were worth it seeing the destroyed city. Their faces twisted horribly when they saw me completely fine.

That was quite enjoyable.

But is an attack of this level anything?

Kwajik!

Baek Cheong-gang's attack was blocked very simply.

Not blocked by my mana or Demonic Power, just the simple difference between an Evil Dragon and a hardworking martial artist.

But this thick-headed man tilted his head.

"Indestructible body?"

A smile naturally formed on my lips.

When Baek Cheong-gang was momentarily confused, I grabbed his arm with my right hand.

"Not just indestructible."

"Wait, what are you suddenly-"

Hwrrrk!

I can control the White Flame at will. The White Flame that instantly covered Baek Cheong-gang's body slowly burned away his magic power.

"Wait, my magic power is draining?"

"Sigh. What an idiot. At your age and still falling for mana absorption?"

Mana absorption. A skill weak Hunters mainly use against stronger opponents to absorb their magic power and prevent them from using abilities.

But unless you specifically train in mana absorption to the ultimate level, you won't take damage from mana absorption.

That's why Ji-yeon is ridiculing Baek Cheong-gang from afar with an incredulous expression.

A body that once fought evenly with Yoo Jin-seok in pure strength during the massive battle in Pyongyang, reduced to this state by mere mana absorption.

Though as I said, I'm not absorbing but burning it.

"No, this is a bit different..."

"Of course. What I'm using isn't some low-level mana absorption."

"Then what is it?"

Ji-yeon asked as Baek Cheong-gang collapsed like he'd been drained by a Succubus.

"I'm burning it completely. I burned away the magic power in Uncle Baek's body."

"So you're saying you can burn away the overflowing Demonic Power beyond the barrier too. White Flame has that function?"

Choi Cheol-sik marveled. His bald head especially sparkled.

"Yes. The flame of purification and destruction."

"This level should be fine."

"Good. I'll make you a pass. I'll contact the Seoul and Incheon gates too so don't worry. Just don't get caught by Yoo Jin-seok."

Finally got approval.

"Yes."

With even Seo Ji-yeon of Yoo Jin-seok's generation endorsing it, Choi Cheol-sik had no choice.

Though I heard Yoo Jin-seok complained later.

What bastard would approve his sister going to such a dangerous area.

"Well, I'm not old enough to be called uncle..."

"Shut up and look in a mirror. Have you no shame?"

"You damn brat. Um, well, how about joining this uncle's Guild? After graduation, 300 million contract..."

Looking carefully, Baek Cheong-gang has definitely aged. He should be in his 20s but looks 40s.

Is this what happens when you don't learn martial arts properly?

Plus if I join there I'll probably have to wear some weird spandex and learn martial arts.

"Even so, a martial arts Guild is a bit..."

A dragon has social status and face to maintain. How could I join such a place?

* * *